Exalibur is a company that’s known for producing some of the best recurve crossbows on the market. They’re also a company that’s known for making bows that are tough enough to stand up to heavy use, which is why their latest model is a great choice for both beginners and experienced hunters.
The Matrix Bulldog 400 is the leading model in Excalibur’s recurve crossbow lineup. It offers impressive comfort, accuracy, balance, and power, and it’s priced more affordably than some of its top competitors, including the Ravin Crossbows R15. It also comes with some great extras and important safety features that will protect both the hunter and the bow. Designed for hunters of all skill levels, this crossbow is not only powerful, it’s also incredibly fun to shoot. The bow’s low maintenance, lightweight design is one of its biggest selling points, but the fact that it’s also easy to use is what makes it one of the leading models of recurve crossbows around.
Overview and Features
Crossbow Informer.com Product Rating:
The Matrix Bulldog 400 by Excalibur is the best recurve crossbow on the market, and one of the top choices to use for hunting bear, considering the high kinetic energy and FPS. We gave this model a rating of four and a half stars out of five.
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Recurve crossbows are often the go-to option for hunters who have no previous experience with bow hunting. But the fact that this style of bow is so beginner-friendly doesn’t take away from its overall power and shooting accuracy.
This model is also very easy to work on and maintain, especially when compared to complex compound bows.
Excalibur did a great job of designing the Bulldog, giving it the right amount of heft for perfect balance, yet the bow is also surprisingly powerful despite its lower weight.
Weighing in at just a little over six pounds, this recurve bow features four hundred FPS, one hundred and twenty-four feet of kinetic energy, and a draw weight of two hundred and eighty pounds.
At four hundred FPS, this is one of the fastest crossbows around and with one hundred and twenty-four pounds of kinetic energy, this bow can take down deer, moose, or bears. Each shot will deeply penetrate even the toughest hide, allowing for a more humane kill shot.
The bow’s lightweight design promotes longer use without the worry of arm fatigue. This is all thanks to the bow’s fourteen-inch power stroke which allows the user to shoot quickly and accurately, despite the lightweight design.
Comfort, Balance, and Accuracy in a Compact Design
This crossbow gets its name due to the bullpup stock, which you’ll normally only find on a rifle. The stock’s design improves aim and comfort, especially when it comes to long shots that are over the forty-yard range. The ready rest stock will also improve feel and balance while promoting improved mobility.
The recoil energy dissipation system suppressors make all the difference in the feel and accuracy of a shot. These string suppressors have been well placed and help to significantly reduce the vibration and noise of the string.
Loaded with Safety Features
This package also comes with a rope cocking aid, designed to make reloading much faster and easier. The rope cocking aid works by minimizing the effort needed to pull back the two hundred and eighty-pound draw weight string by more than half.
This bow also comes with the Guardian Anti-Dry-firing system, a must-have safety feature for beginners and seasoned bow hunters alike. Dry firing is one of the worst things a bow hunter can do to their bow. With the higher than average draw weight, dry firing this bow can even actually crack the limbs.
Fortunately, the manufacturer designed this bow with safety in mind. The anti-dry-firing system is actually built right into the scope mount, which means it’s neatly tucked away, but always working. Should the hunter accidentally dry fire, this safety feature will automatically catch the string, preventing serious damage to the bow. The Guardian system will also de-cock itself, which means the user won’t have to deal with firing a shot in order to de-cock the bolt.
Package Details
This package comes with the crossbow, four arrows, Tact-Zone illuminated scope, Guardian anti-dry-firing system, rope cocking aid, the recoil energy dissipation system suppressors, four one hundred and fifty-grain field points, and an ambidextrous cheekpiece.
Arrow Quality
With the purchase, you’ll get a set of four Diablo eighteen-inch carbon arrows. These arrows were specifically created for Excalibur’s Matrix crossbow series. These arrows feature two-inch vanes and can be equipped with a mechanical or fixed broadhead. The heavier front insert is what improves the arrow’s accuracy and it’s a unique feature you won’t find on other arrows. The design allows for more weight to be placed toward the front of the arrow. And the result? Increased accuracy. Most hunters love these arrows, and they’re the perfect choice for taking down larger game such as bears. The manufacturer recommends using arrows with a minimum arrow weight of three hundred and fifty grains. Anything lower can negatively impact the bow’s performance and may even cause damage to the recurve limbs.
To learn more about the various aspects of a good crossbow go to our Buyer’s Guide.
Pros
- This bow was designed for hunting big game, which is why it features a high FPS.
- Easy to use and maintain
- Comes with all of the accessories you need to get started
- Perfect for hunters of all skill levels
- Anti-dry-firing system
- Lightweight design
- Higher than average draw weight
- Rope cocking aid included
Cons
- Considering the higher price tag, beginners may want to look for a more affordable option.
- Hunters who are used to hair triggers will need to practice in order to get used to the stiffer trigger on the Bulldog 400.
Crossbow Informer.com Product Rating:
The Matrix Bulldog 400 by Excalibur is the best recurve crossbow on the market, and one of the top choices to use for hunting bear, considering the high kinetic energy and FPS. But it’s also a bow that will work for hunting smaller game such as turkey and deer. Basically, this crossbow will excel in every hunting situation.
And like most recurve crossbows, this model is very easy to use and maintain, so we definitely recommend it for beginners. We gave this model a rating of four and a half stars out of five.
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